Journey to Open Orthodoxy

In Journey to Open Orthodoxy, Rabbi Avi Weiss outlines his vision of Judaism—a vision that in recent years has become known as “Open Orthodoxy.” The scope of this work reveals that Open Orthodoxy goes well beyond such controversial issues as women's ordination and LGBT+ inclusion. For Rav Avi, Open Orthodoxy is holistic, embracing the whole of Jewish spiritual, religious, halakhic and national life. The title of the book, Journey to Open Orthodoxy, invites readers to evaluate the book’s content while assessing their own journeys, leading, it may be hoped, to a consideration of an Orthodoxy that is inclusive, non-judgmental, modern and open.

Jeffrey S. Gurock is Libby M. Klaperman Professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University. His work focuses on the American Orthodox community and the variations in Orthodox practice and ritual over the course of American Jewish history. He is the author or editor of 15 books. His most recent book, Jews in Gotham: New York Jews in a Changing City, 1920-2010, was awarded the Everett Family Foundation Award for the best non-fiction Jewish book of 2012 from the Jewish Book Council. Rabbi Avi Weiss is the Founding Rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale-the Bayit, and founder of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School and Yeshivat Maharat. He is also the co-founder of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF), an international organization of Modern Orthodox rabbis. Rabbi Weiss served as National Chairman of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (SSSJ) from 1982-1991 and subsequently as National President for AMCHA - the Coalition for Jewish Concerns, raising a voice of moral conscience on behalf of the Jewish people and humankind throughout the world. In 2013, Newsweek ranked him the 10th most prominent rabbi in the United States. Rabbi Weiss is the author of Holistic Prayer, Women at Prayer, and Spiritual Activism.